Drew County Sheriff’s Department deputies were dispatched report of a man being shot on Thursday, March 22 at approximately 3:30 pm, on Mamie Martin Road near the Drew-Ashley County line.

According to Sheriff Mark Gober, it is believed that Thomas J. Burton, of White Hall in Jefferson County, was unloading items from the cab of his truck when a 357 handgun accidently discharged striking Burton in the lower torso severing a major artery. Burton told family and friends, when they arrived at the scene, that the gun had went off.

While on the way to the scene of the accident, Gober and deputies were met by a truck that was attempting to transport Burton to the hospital. Deputies were able to get Burton situated and held pressure on the wound to reduce the bleeding until an ambulance arrived to transfer Burton to Drew Memorial Hospital where he later passed away.

Sheriff stated “This is a very unfortunate accident and our thoughts and prayers go out to the Burton family during the loss of their grandfather.”